Cellmates at SCI Chester charged with beating, stabbing inmate

By
Rose Quinn, Delaware County Daily Times

Friday, May 2, 2014

Two cellmates at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) Chester are facing aggravated assault and related charges after allegedly beating up and stabbing a third inmate, part of which was captured on surveillance video, according to documents filed by Pennsylvania State Police.

Sheldon Kylen Richardson of Harrisburg and Tyrone Hipps of Cleveland, Ohio, both 23, were transferred to the facility’s restrictive holding unit immediately following the incident on April 25, at about 9:30 a.m.

The unidentified victim, 24, suffered wounds to his head, back, left arms and right hand, according to state police. He was treated at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where he was also interviewed by Trooper John O’Donnell before being discharged and returned to the prison on East Fourth Street in Chester.

A bloody, crude cutting instrument was recovered by SCI Chester correctional officers from inside a trash can near where the assault occurred on the second tier of CB block.

According to the affidavit of probable cause for arrest, written by O’Donnell, a member of the PSP Crime Unit in Middletown, a correctional officer witnessed the assault.

“The victim was walking toward his cell when he was attacked by at least two inmates,” the affidavit states.

The correctional officer identified the suspects and said they “continuously were striking (the victim) in the head and back.

The victim told O’Donnell that he dropped to the floor during the beating and curled into a ball. He said he didn’t know who was attacking him, and at one point felt being cut and then saw blood dripping from his body.

The affidavit described the attack as lasting 15 to 20 seconds, and ended only when the correctional officer approached the stairs to the top tier of the cell block.

After the assault, as Richardson and Hipps were walking back toward their cell, they reportedly continued to yell, “That’s what you get,” and “Keep running your mouth,” the affidavit states. Once they were back in their locked cell, they reportedly banged on the cell door and wall while cheering at the victim.

According to the affidavit, several other correctional officers responded to the cellblock to back-up their colleague. By the time they arrived, the victim was standing up, bleeding profusely. He was taken to Crozer’s emergency department.

When correctional officers transferred Richardson and Hipps from their cell to the restrictive holding unit, Richardson’s shirt was marked with blood, the affidavit states.

A motive in the attack remains under investigation.

In addition to first-degree felony aggravated assault, the pair is charged with simple assault, prohibitive offensive weapons, harassment and conspiracy, according to online court records. A preliminary hearing date has not yet been set.

According to authorities, Richardson and Hipps are both serving time for aggravated assault convictions; Richardson out of Dauphin County, and Hipps out of Erie County.